I Never Declared 2023 Elections Compromised, Says Jega

Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has refuted claims that he labelled the 2023 elections as compromised. Jega said he never made such a statement in any forum.

The former INEC helmsman was reported to have alleged that the 2023 elections were compromised at a two-day retreat organised by the Senate in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

Jega, a professor of political science at Bayero University, Kano, who presented a paper titled: “Electoral Reform and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: Review of 2022 Electoral Act (areas for further legislative actions) was quoted to have said: “We have seen, in 2023 elections, the damaging effect of how people in the corridors of power get their client/partisan nominees appointed, without being thoroughly screened, and then they are influenced to compromise the integrity of elections.”

However, in a statement signed by senior research assistant (SRA), The Electoral Hub, an initiative for research, innovation and advocacy in development (IRIAD), Princess Hamman-Obels, yesterday, she described the report making the rounds as incorrect and not an accurate reflection of Jega’s position.

She said, “The attention of Professor Attahiru Jega has been drawn to a misleading report published in a number of online newspapers quoting him to have commented that the 2023 elections were compromised.”

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Hamman-Obels stressed that the report making the rounds is incorrect and not an accurate reflection of the presenter’s position.

“Professor Jega categorically denies making this particular comment about the 2023 polls.

“As would be seen in his presentation he made at the Senate Retreat held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, nowhere did he make such a statement that the 2023 elections were compromised. Professor Jega hopes this rebuttal will correct the incorrect and inaccurate reporting currently making the rounds,” the statement added.